Germany's Vanishing Colonies

are mere vaults in which repose the relics of ill-advised and vainly attempted ventures, whilst others are fruitful gardens wherein fl

and Dutch in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, but the steel glove upon which the mailed fis

trade between Goa and the east coast of Africa. They excelled as navigators and explorers, but the whol

IES IN THE P

y permission

umatra and Borneo, and ever since

rast to our own country which has pursued a policy binding her oversea dominions closer and closer to the motherland-a policy which ha

rprises,[G] and the Dutch placed the Cape of Good Hope (while it was in t

eas, and their galleons for many years provided the excitement of the chase as well as profit in "double pieces of eight" for British sea

ates, which they seem to have collected for the specific purpose of burying in brass-clamped chests on uninhabited islands for the benefit of the adv

g trade abroad, albeit it often-times took the form of preying upon the rich cargoes collected by the Dutch,

lished to develop the spice trade which was then the richest of the East, a cargo of pepper-corns being r

land groups as well as the east coast of Australia, where he hoisted the British flag, really firmly established British interests

grew, and the apathy of the statesmen at home was not allowed by their sons on the

esigns which were centred on New Zealand, and her "protection" was only extended to some small island groups

nd-had fallen to the heritage of Great Britain, and development

garded as natural adjuncts of the Australian Settlements, were not definitely tak

Australia by the shoal-dotted Torres Straits, about 90

of New Guinea (also known as Papua), while the new name appears to have

ons, amongst them Captain Cook and Tasman, whose name is perpetuated in Tasmania though the islan

ited by Chinese fishing junks in s

rth of New Guinea without exercising any effective jurisdiction, and relied upon th

onopoly might be jeopardised. They obstinately refused all access to New Guinea; but the Dutch barrier was broken down by emissaries of the British East India Company in search of spice islands, and in 179

protect the rights they claimed in New

ountries whose explorers "discovered" them, and their savage inhabitants were allowed to continu

g conditions prevailed on harmonious lines and the lives and private property of British traders were safeguarded, until in about 1880 the tips of the tentacles of the German octopus delicately spread out to seek the spots

merica, but until 1898, when they annexed Hawaii and occupied Samoa, the United States adhered t

, and their influence began to be most markedly denoted in disaffe

to Lord Carnarvon, who was then Colonial Secretary, but the minister declined

ve, the Government of Queensland, with the approval of the whole of Australia, annexed a portion of New Guinea to her dominions; but

ralia and our Imperial minister the danger to her commerce if New

ion of a Protectorate over the whole of New Guinea and the adjacent islands (including the New Britain Archipelago, the Solomon, Caroline, Palau, Marshall, and Ladrone Islands) under a High Com

ew Guinea a Protectorate over the region lying "between the 141st meridian eas

as Papua, only; but in other parts of the islands there were British settlem

definitely and formally annex territory; the German flag was hoisted in the northern part of New Guinea and on s

y agreement in regard to New Guinea was made between Great Britain and Germany in 1885, whereby the latter assumed administration over t

smarck Archipelago"; and the principal island of the group

ate Colony, but the administration was, in 1902, p

rned in the Samoan trade (Great Britain, Germany, and the United States of America) were conducting commerce without friction until the Germans

the German pretensions to a say in the administrative control of Samoa began to be recognised by Great Britain and the United States as the Germ

ule of native kings (two) and chiefs, but constant feuds

strife was fomented in order that "repressive measures for the establishment of l

e world exists in its incentive to a distinguished memory. Agreements were made by the Samoan kings at various dates with Great Britain, the United States and Germany. Each of

espectively in such parts of the Western Pacific Ocean as might be placed by either Government under its special protection, with a view to recommending the adoption by both Governments of suc

y played by Luderitz in South West Africa of applying to the Imperial German Governmen

ominated by the German nominee and to have cheerfully acquiesced in and recommended to o

amoa under the native kings and chiefs was incompatible with the maintenance of peace and order and destructive of the best interests both of the Samoans t

d if the administration of the native Government was assumed by one of the treaty Powers; the sovereignty of the King of Samoa and the i

for reconstructing the native Government upon

ng Malietoa and his heirs, and that a Council of Chiefs (called the King's Council)

should consist of eight members: four native Samoans and four Europeans, of which l

ntrol of the two principal harbours, Apia and Saluafata; but the establishment of similar Anglo-

ssions in order to obtain rifles and ammunition. Dr Krauel, the German Commissioner, in making the recommendation that the administration of the native government should be assumed by one of the treaty Powers, suav

of Germany should meet recognition by the nomination of two German representativ

resentations of his German colleague to suggest to his Government the adoption

s into their own hands; and on 31st December, 1885, King Malietoa was driven by a German force

Representative was not to abolish the Samoan Government b

Apia to an American, who transferred the deeds to a German-the purchase price being only five hundred dollars. The land was look

on to alleged grievances of Germany, more especially in respect of the violations of treaty agreements, and declaring the intention of the German Government to take, in reparation, "possession of the lands of the village

ossession of, and the document concludes with a characteristic Hohenzollern touch: "I beseech you to be

rised the while a movement was set on foot by Germans in Samoa to upset the rule of Malietoa and replace him by one o

nd that his kingship could not be jeopardised, the three Powers, Great Britain, Ge

amongst his people, Malietoa issued the fol

nce more united under the Government of Malietoa, for England does not undertake anything which she does not carry through; and all that England undertakes she do

oreign Minister, the Earl of Iddlesleigh, referred rather bitterly to King Maliet

nths of which Malietoa had offered to place Samoa under the protection of the United States-which

the three Powers-the reason being that the Germans were determined

ards the end of 1887 they demanded satisfaction from Malietoa for alleged robbery and insults to German subje

d by the Germans, and one Tamasese was set up in his place. The English

ia. An insurrection was engineered by the Germans which was headed by Matiafa, who was attacked by Malietoa; and the opp

ecame extremely strained in regard to Samoa, and war

the British Calliope alone pounded her way out to sea and safety to the ringing cheers of t

raditions of British seamanship; while the ribs of the German flagship Adler serve t

nally settled, her history consists of no m

he futility of control by the three Powers, one of

be independent neutral territory, Great Britain, Germany, and the United States to have equal right

es by the Germans, now supported Malietoa, who received a vociferous

hich was no sinecure, in favour of his friend Matiafa. The latter's election by the people was nece

ert of the Powers he was reinstated in his former position-a proceeding which

ed conjointly, and Matiaf

order when Mr Henry Ide, an American, was appointed Chief Justice-a position of great responsibility. He seems, however, to have

t of New Zealand to come forward with a proposal to establish a Protectorate ove

probable that such an arrangement would have met with the approval of the

ritain and Germany, and the bombardment by ships of the two countries; wh

ct displayed by our Consular Service, arose over the election of a king to succe

final decision lay, decided in favour of Tanu in accordance with the inter

mans, who instigated Matiafa to rebel; and a serious outbreak occ

from H.M.S. Porpoise, on which Mr Ch

esident of the Municipal Court of Apia; and he proclaimed himself Chie

tatement of Mr Chambers, and he sent ashore a threat to bombard the town if an

ffel's action did not meet with the approval of the Gove

tes cruiser, Philadelphia, and a proclamation was issued under which Matiafa'

e immediate result of which was that Apia was surrounded by a strong force of reb

d landed forces of bluejackets, who, after some

an Islands in the presence of the Foreign Consuls, with th

nd several Anglo-American parties of bluejackets and marines

was appointed in May, 1899, Mr Bartlett Tripp (President) representing

the Commission, but Tanu had wearied of

ingship was abolished and the Government of Samoa placed in the hands of an Administrator with a Council of the Co

trator, and Mr Osborne, the United States Consul, was appointed to

ied in the Samoa Treaty, the principal Samoan Islands were annexed by Germany, the Tonga, Savage, and Solomon Islands

00, the German flag

a rebellion; and these, having been submitted to the arbitration of the King of Sweden,

New Zealand, and the Imperialist Premier, the late "D

withdrawal from Samoa, Seddon, who had looked to the realisation of the dream o

is necessary that immediately opportune steps should be taken to put the islands admitted to be British on a satisfactory footing. Some definite action of a forward character is required in the Pacific at th

a

rls, of joy-rides on turtle back, of dusky beauties with scarlet hybiscus bloom

the islands he loved-gentle and entrancing-and breathe the soft atmosphere undisturbed save by the gurgle of riv

nce of the murmur of the surf over coral reefs and silver sands, or th

ination in blood-spattered, headless corpses, victims of tribal fights, or "the wh

on the beach," or "on the pebbly," to denote a hopeless financial condition; but as a class thes

reat chiefs?" asked one of the Samoan islanders, indicating the

fare made of carved wood, with collections of smoke-dried human heads with fantastically tattoo

th which the bare necessaries of life were produced from natural resources, conduced to a dol

d on, consists of fourteen islands, of which eight, Savaii, Manono, Apolima, Upolu, Fanua

omprising some 650 square miles; while Upolu, 22 mi

ges through which the navigation is difficult and dangerous. Savaii, rising to 5,400 feet, possesses an active volcano; Upolu reache

fresh water inland, but it is plentiful on the low

t is almost a drawback, for the extreme productiveness of the soil obviates the necessity for strenuo

trade. At Apia Stevenson died on the 5th December, 1894. He was much loved by the Sa

ta are open harbours, and during the months of January, February, and

population is a little over 40,000. The natives residing on Upolu amount

ed them to be closely allied to the Maoris of New Zealand, and to have thei

t the islands of the South Seas, its prac

g food such as cocoa-nuts, etc., for the purpose of sending it away and selling it, held about it something barbaric, unhandsome, and absurd. There is for him

on the plantations; and to provide this Chinese have been imported

nd; and as the Samoans could not be got to work, plantations were established under German managers who pr

moa, a controlling German firm was established who gradually obtained possessi

ence of the Samoan kings, a notice-board set up indicating that the historic village was the property of the German firm. These board

y the occupier of their land, and consequently regarded the constant raiding of the German plantations and the s

risonment, to sell their copra to no one except to the mortgagee. The firm, which Stevenson describes as "the true centre of t

n in 1711 a monopoly of trade with South America and the Pacific Islands was granted to the South Sea Company in England, its rich

the end of monopolies until the era of the German f

copra, and the value of land is assesse

ns, as the natives readily bartered for

25 an acre, and cultivated land planted with cocoa-nuts from ￡20

the usual tropical products of cocoa, coffee,

y found for copra and its steady rise in price during recent years, further planting has energ

r stumps were packed, and soon obtained a firm hold upon the plantations,

m themselves into beetles. On coming to the surface they fly from tree to tree and feed on the leaves, especially on the centre leaf of the cocoa-nut palm-the heart of the tree-which, being eaten up,

ntroduction into Samoan production,

e not available all reports as regards the quality of Samoan rubber are

ue of ￡38,508, despite the ravages of the "cacao canker," which attacks the older

hosphates, the value of which, exported from th

de last year on the phosphate indust

eans, 90 Chinese, and 576 natives of the Protectorate were employed in the phosphate mines on the Island of Nauru. The works were improved and extended in many directions. The Deutsche Suedsee Phosphat Aktiengesellschaft exported from Angaur 54,000 tons of phosphate, as against

ies of calico, petticoats of which are worn by both men and women. The latter purch

ports in 1911 t

the wild sugar-cane disease having nearly destroy

a better connection was provided for the whole South Sea District (by the Germans of

sult of their work in their native schools every Samoan can read and write his own language. The Go

ernor, and who were chosen from the leading merchants and planters. The votes of the general public as regards the election of these were presented to the Governor for his information, but he was not c

discouraged by a deposit of ￡25, or a guarantee for that amount, being required to be placed in the hands of the collector of

topped and all Court proceedings were held in the German language, or, where those concerned could not speak German, by means of an interpreter. Interpreters were provid

as regarded trade and commerce the proximity of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji caused the k

Gu

) group of islands comprise Melanesia,

iles, while the German possessions in the north of the principal island, and

ag, renamed Kaiser Wilhelm's Land, New Britain became Neu

al islands of the Bismarck Archipelago, the are

hot and humid, and the seasons may be roughly divided into the comparatively dry period of

ches on the sea-board, and far more on the high

is prevalent. It occurs in more or less severe forms, and occasionally terminates fatally. The eradication of the mosquito pest by petroleum spraying, which has proved such a

eefs and a line of large and small islands, and is indented by fi

s so continuously for days at a time that a sailing boat can do nothing but lie at anchor waiting

there is enough water to make it safe to pass over them, and then the coral presents a beautiful sight-snow-white with long branch

e most prominent feature of its configuration, especially on the east coast, being the magnific

of 15,000 feet or more, are reported to have been seen

on all the large islands, but so far no navig

and great variety. While in places extensive areas of grass plains are found, the hillsides and lowlands are, for the gr

ical fruit such as paw-paws are cultivated by the nati

s crude state poisonous; but the Papuans have devised the means of carefully preparin

filled with a starchy mass from which the growing fruit draws its nourishment. The tree is felled by the P

and groves are found everywhere; while copra an

bird of paradise is particularly notable for richness of plumage; and the

ty being, of course, German officials and planters; while th

men on the beach," and wild and weird tales are told of early days of

r civilisation in British New Guinea, gives the fo

ve a supply of liquor handy for his clie

wo humans would follow the bottles as the result of a heated but disconnected argument, and decide to remain there till the morning. The storekeeper and

at this meant there was no need of a place of detention for members

pen-air treatment, was lying asleep in the street, and it was necessary to remove him. A d

he unhappy man waked up for a moment, and, not quite understanding the

exploit the natives have not produced very successful economic results, and the import of Chinese coolies had to be r

f a number of races, differing totally from ea

nter-tribal wars and feuds have been continuous, in the course

m, the Papuans freely admit the prevalence of the custom; and although they now profess to have discontinued cannibalis

cerers and in witchcraft, and are more easily held in

ative races; it being beneath a man's dignity to be engaged in any other labour

of Neu Pommern. The town was the most important commercial centre of the Colony, several of the principal trading and pla

but English was also spoken or at least unders

same principles as their own languages, and every white man who cannot speak native seems to fall naturally into the use of it. So universal is its use

articularly distasteful to the officials, especially when an Englis

lay language might be introduced with advantage, this unlovely dog-English should still be encouraged, the quaint expressions prom

on of English, on the other hand pidgin

Archipelago. Lying outside the cyclonic belt, those devastating storms which are largely responsible for the failure of crops in Polynesia, as well as in some of the gro

able, but cotton, rubber, cocoa, coffee, and to

s more and more land was brought under cultivation. Other articles of export incl

amounted to about ￡250,000, and with c

the value of ￡25,000, but an agitation on hand against the destruction of wil

ern people. They are used in the gelatinous soups which form an important article of food in China. They are prepared for export by bein

quantities, and although there are small saw-mills in Kaiser Wilhelm's Lan

d was located by prospectors from Queensland, but the gold ve

exploitation was reserved by the German Government

of food-stuffs, liquid and tinned, machinery and iron ware

in textiles, the clothing of men and women alike being usually composed of s

h was ordered to seize Samoa, left Wellington at dawn and was met at sea by three of His B

Gneisenau were at large in the Pacific, it was decided not to go

re joined by the French cruiser Montcalm and by

n from the French in New Caledonia, and under the command o

nd international schemings, and the scene also of that devastating hurricane which wrecked six ships of war

rman flagship, pitched high inside the reef, sta

essage from Rear-Admiral Sir George Patey demanding surrender. The Germans, who had been expecting their own fleet in, were surp

terwards Apia was swarming with British bluejackets and troops. Guards were placed

seize the wireless station, the tall, latticed iron mast of which could be seen ris

ng their hats and standing bareheaded and silent on the veranda of the Supreme Court as they watched the soldier in k

new Government. Inside the square and facing the flagstaff were Colonel Logan and staff in their rough khaki uniforms, with them the naval Commanders. On

alietoa, with the representatives of the allied fleets of Great Britain and America and the civ

roops had ceased and an intense silence had prevailed. Two bluejack

e bay. Then slowly, very slowly, inch by inch, to the booming of twenty-one guns

he top of the flagstaff and fluttered out in the

yal salute as the band pl

Colonel Logan terminated the brie

utz, was sent to Fiji and s

rtsh?he in Neu Pommern was oc

neisenau made their appearance at Apia, but on the New Zeal

d ten members of the crew deserted and rowed the seventy miles to Apia, where they hoped to

s in the old administration resigned their appointments,